USA > Pennsylvania > Annals of Pennsylvania, from the discovery of the Delaware > Part 16
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1 Clay's Annals of Swedes, p. 36. Campanius, p. 109.
2 MSS. A. P. S., Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 374.
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en st he to d d n
ies tor ng ce.
142
JOHN PAPPEGOYA, GOVERNOR AD INTERIM.
1653. things in such a state that no damage will ensue, and refer to communications made on these subjects with John Rysing, who was, under this date, appointed commissary of the college of commerce, to assist him.
Must have departed be- fore its re- ceipt.
As we have already seen, Printz must have taken his de- parture before the receipt of this letter, and probably surprised the government by his personal presence, by the time it reached this country. It is an additional proof that Printz did not depart in 1652, as some historians assert, and that he had performed his duties to the satisfaction of the government.
goya sup- posed to have acted as governor.
On the departure of Printz, it is universally stated by his- John Pappe- torians, that the charge of the government was left in the hands of his son-in-law, John Pappegoya ; if so, it could only have been for the short interval prior to the arrival of John Rysing, though it has been asserted by some that he con- tinued about eighteen months, and then returned to Sweden, which we think incorrect, from some facts which we shall offer. Indeed, no account of his official acts, we believe, has reached us.
Dec. 12.
Business of the company tranferred to the college of commerce.
" The press of business and other obstacles preventing the government from regulating all those things which the im- portance and utility of the company of the south, and the interests of the government demanded, Governor Printz is notified, until further orders, that they have placed the management of these matters in the hands of the general college of commerce, whose orders he is required to receive and obey."1
John Ry- sing ap- pointed com- missary. His salary.
John Rysing is, by commission of this date, nominated commissary of the college of commerce, of which he had formerly been secretary ; it recites, "that having directed our very faithful subject, John Rysing, to make a voyage to New Sweden, in order there to aid, for a certain period, our present governor of the said country, agreeably to the orders and instructions which he has received from said college, and being willing that, in consequence of the hazards and fatigue he will experience during so long a voyage, his support and pay be there rendered certain, we command that the said John Rysing, in virtue of this letter-patent, and in the capacity of commissary of the said general college of commerce, shall receive annually 1200 dollars in silver, in addition to the special appointments which he may receive from the company
1 MSS. A. P. S., Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 399.
4
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PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
of. the south, " and the college is directed to place him on their list of appropriations for that sum, causing it to be sent to him in due time, every year." Accordingly, an order is drawn on the " chamber of finances," directing it to pay him "immediately, and without delay, 1000 rix-dollars, for his equipment and voyage," "particularly as our service, and that of the kingdom, requires that the vessel, which has remained for a long time at Gottenberg, ready to sail, should depart for New Sweden."1
The following are the instructions furnished to John Rysingh : Dec. 12.
First, as to defence, they say, " as it is important to her Relating to majesty, for purposes as well of security as commerce, that the river of the south, where we have established a harbour, be fortified, protected, and defended, as far as practicable, the governor of said place should be careful, particularly, that the said river, with its harbour, its mouth, the entrance on the two coasts, and its course upwards, be as far as neces- sary and practicable, always in proper condition and at our disposal, as well in regard to the passage of the vessels which ascend the rivers, as for those which descend for the purpose of exporting those merchandises which the country furnishes."
As the river is useless where the country on either side Endeavour does not belong to her majesty, the " governor should content to secure both sides himself with securing the country, by extending our posses- of the coast, sions upon the two coasts as much as possible, agreeably to justice and good faith, but without a breach of friendship with the English and Dutch, or exposing to risk what we already possess."
" He should employ similar discretion in regard to the exten- Also the sion of the country itself upon the western side, so that if we can, with prudence and propriety, and by means of the co- operation of the English and Dutch, without hostility or any risk to what we already possess, take possession of the land, and by that means extend our limits, we will employ to that end all our energy, proceeding along the shores of the river as far as it may be convenient for security and commerce."
" With respect to the fortress that the Dutch have built upon our coast, if he cannot induce them to abandon it, by argu- ments and serious remonstrances, and without resorting to hostilities, it is better that our subjects avoid resorting to hostilities, confining themselves solely to protestations, and 1 MSS. A. P. S., Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 399.
143
1653.
the defence of the river.
keeping friends with the Dutch and English.
land on the west side.
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144
JOHN PAPPEGOYA, GOVERNOR AD INTERIM.
1653.
Induce Dutch to give up Fort Casi- mir, but not in a hostile manner, for fear of the English seiz- ing it, in case of rup- ture with the Dutch.
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Promote by all means, commerce. Not to ex- act high du- ties, or even none, in cer- tain cases. Foreigners to pay duties, and must trade with the com- pany. These duties, &c. to be em- ployed in de- fence of the country. Privileges secured to the purcha- sers of land from the savages or company. 1
Governor Printz, be- fore leaving, is to furnish an account of the situa- tion of things. Place mili- tary affairs under John Amundson. Establish a council, &c.
suffer the Dutch to occupy the said fortress, than that it should fall into the hands of the English, who are the more powerful, and of course the most dangerous in that country. But it is proper that a fortress be constructed lower down the river, towards the mouth ; employing, however, the mild- est measures, because hostilities will in no degree tend to increase the strength of the Swedes in the country, more particularly as by a rupture with the Dutch, the English may seize the opportunity to take possession of the aforesaid for- tress, and become, in consequence, very dangerous neighbours to our possessions in said country."
They then recommend employing every means that may favour and facilitate commerce, as the most likely course to benefit the country, such as not exacting more than two per cent., or even allowing to enter free, merchandise arriving or departing, if sold to, or to be employed in trade with the savages, the same to be exempt from duty in Sweden, pro- vided it belongs to Swedish subjects, but foreigners to pay - rix-dollars per 100, and they not permitted to ascend with their vessels, or trade with the natives, but only with the company, whose privileges are to remain free of duty, either here or in Sweden. The duties and excise levied on foreigners or subjects, to be employed in defence of the country, and to the profit of the company, until further explanation.
Purchasers of land from the company or savages, and be- coming subjects, are assured of being admitted into the com- pany, and enjoying all allodial privileges and franchises, but no one to enter into possession but by consent of the govern- ment, so that no one be deprived improperly of what he already possesses.
Before the governor leaves the country, he is to render to Commissary Rysingh a full account of the situation of affairs, place all that relates to military affairs and the defence of the country into the hands of John Amundson, establish a coun- cil formed of the best instructed and most noble officers in the country, of which Rysingh shall be director, in such manner, that neither he, in his charge, nor Amundson, as governor of militia, in his, shall decide or approve any thing, without reciprocally consulting each other. The governor shall, for the present, give them written directions for their guide. Should the governor remain in the country longer, he shall
145
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
accept Rysingh as commissary and assistant counsellor, and in the council those whom he shall think most proper.
In relation to those things particularly confided to Rysingh, the college of the chamber confer upon him the full power Powers con- and permission that her majesty has conceded to him, to be ferred by college on Rysingh. governed by the instructions and memoirs given him.1
Her majesty grants to John Rysingh, " his wife, and their Dec. 12. legitimate male heirs and their descendants, as much land in Grant of the West Indies and New Sweden as he shall be able to cul- tivate with 20 or 30 peasants, ceding to him it" and all its dependencies, in woods, fields, fisheries, rivers, and mill-seats, and all other properties upon land or water, "to enjoy, em- ploy, and keep the same, in the same manner, and with the same franchises as our nobles, and as a perpetual property," conformably to the conditions established by the resolution of Noorhoping, in 1604, and other regulations. The governor is ordered to follow exactly these directions, granting to Ry- singh so much land as he shall be able to occupy with 20 to 30 peasants.2
Rysingh arrived in the early part of the next year.
Various privileges are offered by the college of commerce, December. for the more extensive settlement of the country. Such of Privileges of her majesty's subjects as sail in their own vessels to New trade and settlement to those who sail in their own vessels. Sweden, have " the liberty of trading on the South River and the interior of the country," as well with savages as with the Christians and the company itself, "of ascending and de- May plant scending the river without paying any larger duty or tax," colonies. Exemption from duties, &c. excepting two per cent. on all merchandise, at a reasonable valuation ; if they import merchandise procured in trade on the river on Swedish vessels, into any port belonging to her majesty, they can there land and sell free of duty and charge; but foreign vessels are prohibited from trading on the river with the savages or others, but with the company alone. All subjects are allowed "to establish on the lands of the company as many colonies as they may be able, at their own expense, to keep said lands, and employ them in plantations of tobacco, or in any useful manner, during cer- tain years of franchise, and under good conditions." But any one who has purchased from the savages particularly a portion of land, or has had the same from the company at a just price, and has thereon established cultivators, shall pos-
1 MSS. A. P. S., Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 399, 400. 2 Ibid. p. 398.
19 N
1653.
land to John Rysingh.
146
JOHN PAPPEGOYA, GOVERNOR AD INTERIM.
1653. sess the same for ever, with all allodial franchises customary in this country, with this exception, however, that no one shall establish himself in those places where the company have reserved certain lands for culture as aforesaid, " they are certified of being comprehended in the company," in re- lation to which " a further grant will be delivered, or that they shall be maintained in the liberty which has been accorded to them ; no one, however, demanding the possession of a tract of land, can obtain it except according to the orders of the governor, and by submission to all the just and civil laws of the country."1
March 16. Act relating to commerce and naviga- tion, and for cultivating and populat- ing the coun- try of New Sweden.
A crisis on South River approaching.
1654.
An ordinance was passed by the Swedish government in relation to the commerce and navigation of New Sweden, and for cultivating and populating the country, which guarantees, 1st, To all who " purchase a portion of land, whether of the company or of the natives," and recognise subjection to the Swedish governor, that they shall enjoy the land thus purchased, and their heirs, " as a perpetual possession, with every allodial franchise, with the assurance either of being included in the company, or of preserving, otherwise, all the franchises hereby granted to them." 2d, All subjects who have paid a duty in Sweden, or the provinces under its dominion, shall be exempt from all duties on arriving in New Sweden, and the goods they bring with them shall pay only two per cent., and be exempt from all duties, either in Sweden or its depend- encies ; they shall, besides, have the privilege of trading with the natives themselves."2
Some of these provisions, it will be seen, appear to corre- spond with those of December, 1653.
A crisis on South River was now fast approaching. Ry- singh, who, as we have seen, left Sweden at the close of last year, might reasonably be expected before long, though pro- bably the Dutch were ignorant of his coming, and certainly had no reason to anticipate the events which attended his arrival. Printz had departed, Pappegoya was in charge of public affairs, and probably they had no reason to expect, in so short a period, a change in the administration, to be accom- panied with such disastrous consequences, as no extraordinary means of defence were provided.
1 MSS. A. P. S., Reg. Penns. vol. iv. p. 374.
2 Ibid. vol. v. p. 14.
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1
147
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
A written license was granted by Governor Stone, of 1654. Maryland, to Thomas Adams, "with his vessel to trade or traffic with those of the Swedish nation in Delaware Bay, &c." March 18. " Why such a license was necessary for the purpose of trading with the Swedes settled on the Delaware, especially as no war License to then subsisted between the English commonwealth and the Swedish nation, as there did between the former and the trade on the Delaware. Dutch, does not clearly appear, unless the general power to regulate all trade carried on by the inhabitants of the province with any neighbouring colony, should have been deemed to appertain to the prerogative powers of the lord proprietary." " It might have been inserted to guard against any trade or communication with any Swedes who might then be in sub- jection to, or within any Dutch settlements on the Delaware."1
T. Adams, of Maryland, to
It would appear from the following letter from the West India Company to Governor Stuyvesant, that an application had been made by him for the admission of some beavers free of duty, that probably Governor Printz took with him as a private adventure, on his returning home. At this request they do not seem to be very well pleased, for which their situation, as intimated in the letter, may form some apology. They probably, too, recollected the trouble he had caused them during his administration. It manifested, however, good feeling, on the part of Stuyvesant, to one with whom he had been so often in personal conflict for years. The letter May 18. is dated May 18, 1654.
They say, " We could not condescend to grant the petition which your honour made in a private letter of November 7, 1653, in favour of the late Swedish governor, John Printz, to return him the recognition which we received on behalf of a quantity of beavers; chiefly so, because said Printz did not, as he pretended, send these beavers to Sweden by the way of Amsterdam, but really sold them here, and gave this sum on interest, on his account, so that the said beavers did not be- long, in any manner, to the crown of Sweden, but to him, Printz, individually. We have indeed been somewhat sur- prised that your honour acted with so much apparent liberality, although you were informed of the situation of the company, and were not ignorant how difficult it is for us to effect that our revenues answer our expenses here and abroad : we must
Letter to P. Stuyvesant, on his appli- cation for remission of duties on beavers, in behalf of Gov. Printz, from the company, who accuse him of pro- digality.
1 Bozman's Maryland, pp. 479, 480. Council proceedings of Maryland, 1636 to 1657, p. 298.
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to ct he of
one any her re-
148
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1654.
therefore renew our recommendation, that hereafter your honour will not dispose so lavishly of our revenues, but rather excuse yourself with courtesy, when you are vexed by similar petitioners, so that your respect and authority remain undi- minished from the one side, and from the other no discontent or troubles may originate."1
Time of Printz's de- parture.
From the reference here made to Governor Stuyvesant's private letter of November 7, 1653, we infer that it was sent by Governor Printz himself, and that this was about the date of his departure from the country.
May 27.
Arrival of J. Rysingh, a new gover- nor. Pappegoya now pro- bably retires.
John Rysingh, commissary and assistant counsellor, arrives, as he himself informs us, "a few days before the 27th of May," in the government's "ship Aren, Captain Swensko, very much to the alarm of the Dutch." It will be seen, from the following extracts from several letters on record, that instead of complying with his instructions not to act in a hos- tile manner towards the Dutch fort, but to be satisfied with protestations and remonstrances, the first act, on his arrival, was to demand the surrender of that fort, which he soon accomplished. It does not appear, from any thing we have seen, that he even had had any communication with the Swe- dish authorities. Printz had already departed, and Pappegoya, his successor, was probably at Tinnicum; his charge of the administration here perhaps terminated, having lasted about six months.
May 31. Gerrit Bik- ker's account of the cir- cumstances attending the surren- der of Fort Casimir.
Gerrit Bikker, commandant of Fort Casimir, in a letter to Governor Stuyvesant, of 8th June, communicates as follows : " On the last day of May, we perceived a sail; not knowing who she was, or where from, Adriaen Van Tienhooven, accompanied by some free persons, were sent towards her to investigate, who, the next day, contrary to hoping and trust- ing, returned here in the roads about two hours before the arrival of the ship, with the following news: that it was a Swedish ship, full of people, with a new governor, and that they wanted to have possession of this place and the fort, as they said it was lying on the Swedish government's land. About an hour after receiving this news, the Swedish govern- ment's captain, Swensko, with about 20 soldiers, came on shore with the ship's boat. We bade them welcome as friends, judging, that in case they intended to attempt any thing, they would at least give us notice ; but contrary to this, he 1 Albany Records, vol. iv. p. 138.
149
1654.
PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
made his people likewise come in, and then demanded, at the point of the sword, the surrender of the river, as well as the fort. This transaction was so hurried as hardly to afford delay enough for two commissioners to proceed on board, to Bikker's ac- demand of the governor his commission, and some little time count con- tinued. for consultation ; but before the commissioners had got on board, there were two guns fired over the fort, charged with ball, as a signal, after which our people were immediately deprived of their side-arms, and likewise aim taken on them, ready to fire, because they did not deliver up their muskets, which were immediately snatched from them, and likewise men were immediately stationed at the pieces of ordnance at the points. Those who had been sent off returned, and brought us information that there was no desire to give one hour delay, that his commission was on board the vessel, and that we would immediately perceive the consequences of it. The soldiers were immediately chased out of the fort, and their goods taken in possession, as likewise my property, and I could hardly, by entreaties, bring it so far to bear, that I, with my wife and children, were not likewise shut out almost naked. All the articles which were in the fort were confis- cated by them, even the corn, having hardly left us as much as to live on, using it sparingly, &c. The governor pretends that her majesty has license from the States-General of the Netherlands, that she may possess this river provisionally."1
The following letter, July 27, from Stuyvesant to the com- pany, furnishes some additional particulars, derived probably from the persons mentioned in it as having arrived from the fort :
" In the preceding month of May, there arrived in the May. Delaware, a ship from Sweden, as it is said, fitted out by the government of Sweden, with a considerable number of peo- ple, according to reports, amounting to about 300 souls, with a new governor ; they came before our Fort Casimir ; they then discharged two or three volleys with shot, after which from 20 to 30 armed soldiers landed from the ship. They were civilly received on the beach, near the gate of the fort, by Gerrit Bikker, our commander ; the door of the gate being open, they hurried through it into the fort, then some im- mediately went to the different points of the bastions, others
1 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 85, 87.
N 2
150
JOHN RYSINGH, GOVERNOR OF THE SWEDES.
1654. immediately disarmed the few remaining company's servants, there being at that time but 10 or 12 soldiers, and in this manner made themselves masters of the place. Seven or eight of the company's soldiers, with Adriaen Van Tien- Governor Stuyvesant's letter to the company, giving an ac- count of the FortCasimir. hooven, have arrived here; the others, with Bikker, the com- mander, and most all the free persons, remained there, and have taken the oath of allegiance to the new Swedish gover- nor. The further circumstances of this dishonourable sur- surrender of render of the fort, and true statement of the same, the positive and unsigned letter of the above-named Bikker, in answer to mine, have reached me overland."1
May 27.
Governor Risingh, on the 27th May, thus announces his arrival to Governor Stuyvesant :
Letter from Gov.Rysingh to Governor Stuyvesant, announcing his arrival, and demand on Fort Casi- mir.
" I cannot refrain giving you notice, that a few days ago, I arrived here safe in the government ship the Aren, with a considerable number of people from the kingdom of Sweden, and having, in behalf and in the name of her royal majesty in Sweden, my most gracious queen, demanded the surrender of the fort built on Sand Point, excluding the surrounding colo- nies, which are of a civil condition, and having represented to the people the liberty to remain or to go, provided those remaining put themselves, of free will, under the obedience of her royal majesty, and thereafter free themselves of the fidelity and obedience given to us, and as this is a matter of greater result than they can settle among the ministers, who only have to go according to rule, therefore the sovereigns on both sides will have to compromise this matter, and mutually agree on the same."2
Discrepancy of dates.
It will be noticed that there is some little discrepancy in the dates of the preceding facts, in relation to the capture of Fort Casimir. Bikker says it occurred " on the last day of May." Rysingh's letter is dated 27th, and says, " he arrived a few days before" it, and he had at this date accom- plished his purpose. We have no means of reconciling them. Acrelius and Campanius both assert that this fort was taken by the Swedes on Trinity Sunday, and from that circum- stance they named it Trefalldigheet, or Trinity.3
Name of Fort Casimir changed to Trinity.
Arrival of Peter Lind- stroem, an engineer, &c.
It is said that with Risingh arrived also Peter Lindstroem, an engineer, several officers, and some troops, and a clergyman, "named Peter -, who remained about two years, and
1 Holl. Doc. vol. viii. p. 89.
2 Ibid. p. 106, 107.
3 Acrelius, p. 414. Campanius, p. 82. O'Call. vol. ii. p. 274.
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PETER STUYVESANT, DIRECTOR-GENERAL.
then returned to Sweden.1 Lindstroem almost rebuilt the fort 1654. anew, and much stronger."2 He also, in the course of this and the next year, prepared for the government of Sweden, a large map, embracing both sides of the river to Trenton. The ori- Early map ginal was destroyed, with the palace of Stockholm, in 1697, but a copy previously taken still remained among the royal archives, in 1834, and a copy of it was then in possession of our American Philosophical Society, and in a reduced form ac- companies Campanius's work. The names of places are in Swedish. Being made at so early a period, it must be very imperfect.3
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